Religion as a Social Institution

and the Effect it has on Society

By: Trey Rogers
 What is Religion?
According to sociologists, religion exists in society as an
organized and integrated system of beliefs, norms, and behaviors
centered on basic social needs and defined as a cultural universal
due to it being found in all social groups.
Religion informs its members as to what beliefs and practices are
forbidden and unites its members into a single moral community.
The word religion is thought to originate from the Latin word
Religionem meaning to show respect for what is sacred (Mark
2009).
 The History of Religion
Religion is believed to have existed since the beginning of the Mesopotamian civilization around c. 3500 BCE in
Sumer, now Southern Iraq. Most ancient religions were polytheistic, meaning they worshipped multiple gods.
According to Joshua Mark, in his article titled Religion in the Ancient World, the Sumerians believed that
human beings were co-workers with the gods and labored with them and for them to hold back the forces of
chaos which had been checked by the supreme deities at the beginning of time (Mark 2009).
The existence of sacred items such as statues, temples, and texts describing the relationship between humans
and the supernatural tell us that humans were beginning to use religion in their everyday lives.
Religion was used by early humans to provide answers for seasonal cycles, fertility, natural disasters, systems of
morality, and finally, what occurs after death. This lead to the first instances of rituals, behaviors and practices
that are either required or expected of the members in a particular religion. Individuals performed religious
rituals to appease gods, provide moral truths, and control fertility along with the environment.
For example, Sumerians performed sacred rituals whenever someone died. This included wrapping the body or
placing it in a coffin and laying it on its side. Treasure, food, water, and other items were left with the body
under the belief that the spirit of the individual would need them at some point.
 How has Religion changed over
time?
In modern society, religion is believed to be sustained by human fear.
Religions main function is to provide their followers with a feeling of
security while living in a dangerous environment (Robinson 2002).
While religions in ancient human history were polytheistic, most modern
religions are either monotheistic or henotheistic. The former describes a
religion where there exists only a single deity while the latter describes a
system where there are multiple gods or deities but only a single god is
worshipped.
However, there still exists an abundance of other religious types, such as
Agnosticism, Animism, Atheism, Deism, Duotheism, Monism, Panentheism,
Pantheism, Polytheism, Trinitarianism, and many more.
 What has caused religion to
change?
As humans began to become more technologically adept, their ability to
transmit different ideas about various religions allowed them to adopt ideas and
beliefs outside of what they considered to be the norm.
Charles L. Harper and Bryan F. LeBeau discuss this trend in modernization and
how it affects religion in their article titled Social Change and Religion in
America: Thinking Beyond Secularization. They argue that media played a key
role in this transformation and that Printed texts increasingly shaped
intellectual worldviews and national myths, as printed constitutions and laws
literally helped constitute nations, laws, and national myth (Harper & LeBeau).
This shaping of cultural beliefs forced the leaders of certain religions to adopt
new ways of thinking in order to be more alluring to potential members.
Is there anything about religion that
has not changed?
Although aspects of various religions have changed over time, the
fact that there involves a deity has not. A religion will always need
something for its members to worship, whether it is an animal, plant,
or some supernatural entity.
One of the other features in religion that will always exist is faith, in
order for a religion to maintain its influence it must have individuals
who believe in it. One may argue that as long as human beings have a
consciousness, we will always seek the spiritual security that religion
provides. This security involves possible answers to questions about
morals, ethics, and simply how one should live his or her life.
 Societys Views on Religion
While there has been a history of tension between various religions, we are
beginning to see more acceptance. Specifically, in the United States there is
an upward trend of positivity among different groups.
In a Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2017, individuals were asked
to gauge emotional warmth on a scale from 1-100 where 100 is the
warmest and most positive. Compared to a similar study done in 2014, there
were increases in warmth across all beliefs, indicating this shift in positivity.
This study found that individuals in society are becoming more open to
religion as a whole and not confining themselves to a particular set of
beliefs.
 Hinduism, an example of roles and
statuses within a religion.
In Hinduism, there exists a caste-based system where individuals are assigned a
particular role that they cannot change. These include the Brahmins, which
consisted of priests and teachers, the Kshatriyas which comprised of warriors and
rulers. Furthermore, there were the Vaishyas or farmers, traders and merchants
while the last role was the Shudra which was made up of laborers.
This system has caused a great amount of inequality and has sparked protests in
India, resulting in a demand for reform. Individuals are forced to use only their
first name because caste identities remain strong, and last names are almost
always indications of what caste a person belongs to (BBC 2016). This is an
apparent attack on ones identity which eventually forced the Indian government
to ban discrimination based on caste.
Different religions assign different roles based on social position, gender, and even
race. These include nuns, bishops, rabbis, and much more. Assigning roles within
a religion allows for delegation of tasks that inevitably aid in the institutions goal.
 Functionalist View of Religion
Sociologist Emile Durkheim contends that religion is about the community in that its primary
function is to bring people together in a type of social cohesion. Furthermore, he claims that
religion promotes behavior consistency and offers strength for people during hardships.
Religion also seeks to provide answers to spiritual questions. For example, an individual may
seek to understand where consciousness comes from and turn to religion for some explanation
that science cannot give.
Churches and other places of worship also serve as locations for social interaction. This creates
specific areas where individuals with similar beliefs can gather and meet other people with the
same views.
Religion also provides order and organization through shared symbols and patterns of
behaviors. As was discussed earlier, this creates a uniform way of evaluating an individuals
actions through the reinforcing of social norms such as following the law and regulating ones
sexual behavior.
 Conflict View of Religion
According to the conflict perspective of religion, this social institution helps
maintain patterns of social inequality. By labeling certain ways of life as
unholy it fosters certain types of intolerance and hatred. Such as Christianity
and their belief that homosexuality is a sin, one may argue that this is simply an
interpretation a single person made regarding a text with multiple meanings.
This is due to the fact that those in power define the practices, rituals, and
beliefs of a particular religion through their interpretations of sacred texts. One
may argue that an individual no longer follows a religion, but instead follows a
single persons interpretation of said religion.
Feminists argue that religion perpetuates as a male-dominated institution where
women are seen as inferior to men.
 Who benefits most from
religion?
As one can see in the previous slides, religions may take a
misogynistic stance, albeit some more than others. One
can argue that religion in general benefits men more
because it reinforces certain familial norms such as
women being better suited for housework.
Furthermore, religion benefits the rich and powerful,
those whose influence reaches far beyond that of a typical
member. Wealthy individuals are able to build churches
and hire workers who spread particular messages.
 How might Religion be
improved?
Religion in itself restricts an individual to a single way of thinking. This is
done through various norms and practices that one must take part in in
order to be included.
Religions across the world must begin to become more acceptant of other
ideas and embrace change instead of hiding from it. This includes becoming
more open to varying ideas about the afterlife, sexual reproduction, abortion,
etc.
Religious institutions should focus on having faith in fellow humans instead
of a superficial power that may or may not exist. If an entire society can
come together and support one another without the lens of religion clouding
their judgment, the world would be a much better place.
 Perceiving Ones Own Religion
A member of a church may view it as an in-group, or a group that one feels
they belong to and plays a pivotal role in who they are. In turn, one may
argue that there is an interdependent relationship between the church and
its members. The members rely on the church to set guidelines and create
a separation between the ordinary and the divine while the church
depended on its members to give the institution its meaning.
Furthermore, in a an article written David Van Biema, he explores a survey
conducted in 1996 that explored how Christians viewed their own religion.
He found that an overwhelming amount of Christians believed that
Christianity was too anti-homosexual. Biema also found Christians
believed the church was becoming far too involved with government affairs.
 Religion and Identity
Religion introduces values, norms, and rules that essentially define what actions
are appropriate in any given group. This in turn leads to individuals developing
a religious identity.
This concept was observed in Laura Lemings article, titled What Is Religious
Agency? where she asserted that an individual may acquire a received or
acquired identity, whether passed on by family, religious group, or other social
entity such as an educational community, or actively sought(Leming 74).
This duality creates conflict as individuals are forced to maintain 2 separate
identities. Parents may ascribe their child a religious identity at birth and he or
she eventually will become exposed to a variety of influences through education,
occupational, or social encounters that results in an achieved identity.
 How might religion affect the
identities of particular members?
The Jewish practice of Niddah, which translates into to be cast aside
involves woman acting and dressing a certain way during their menstruation
cycles.
This act of defilement makes certain women feel defiled or impure and
eventually has an impact on their identity. In a struggle to balance their
religious and social identities, they adhere to these practices that are
required of their religion.
In an article titled Doing Religion in a Secular World: Women in
Conservative Religion and the Question of Agency Ovit Avishai asserts that
the majority of Jewish women detest niddah and described it as onerous;
burdensome, annoying, and hard (Avishai 417).
How Islamic women are affected by Sharia Law

In Sudan, there exists Sharia Laws, which have severely affected the rights of
Islamic Women. This is in conflict with typical Islam values which teach its
members to practice equality.
These Sharia laws are representative of the increasingly misogynistic
attitudes within Islam that are developing in relatively recent times. For
example, there are laws that prevent women from acquiring property, land,
income, and their assets must be managed by a male guardian.
One can see how this is related to a total institution, as these womens lives
are strictly regulated to the extent that personal freedom is practically non-
existent. Furthermore one sees in Sharia societies that their roles are
essentially confined to that of a housekeeper.
 What religions are most prominent
in the United States?
According to a survey conducted by Pew
Research Center, Protestants make up about 46%
of the population.
Catholics make up about 21%
Surprisingly, 23% of respondents claim to be
unaffiliated with any type of religion.
In a New York Times article written by Nate
Cohn, he examines a study done that shows
religion is on the decline in the United States.
Furthermore, he asserts that The Christian
share of adults in the United States has declined
sharply since 2007, affecting nearly all major
Christian traditions and denominations, and
crossing age, race, and region (Cohn 2015).
 Capitalism and the link to
Protestantism
Some argue that capitalism in the United States may be attributed to the Protestant belief
that one should work hard, be successful, and not spend ones profits on frivolous items.
This results in a focus on material gain which leads to an increase in capitalism as
businessmen are constantly finding ways to increase profits.
In an article titled Allegories of Progress: Industrial Religion in the United States the
author observes how Protestantism shaped social classes in an effort to civilize
landscapes, cleanse bodies, and convert individuals into the requisite disciplines of
modern labor and consumption (Callahan 1).
Religion has a tremendous effect on society, whether it is about how a woman perceives
herself, or how an individual perceives society in general. One can argue whether these
are negative or positive impacts but the point still stands, religion would not exist without
society and is dependent on its followers to give it meaning.
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